Document rpqyZe2ELX556BmbyDm8mx0g7

l s a d PGimiram. p m r a n iA s r 3DICAL reronr o f c-uvss o ccm m im t :? In J u ly and dugu t o f 1942, th ere occu rred s i x ca ea s o f le a d p oison in g asiongst workers in tho i'aoteed O il Department a l l o f whoa d is p la y e d syraptons o f Ancophalapathy. \7nf o r t u m t e ly th e f i r s t case d ied o f uraemia which had developed b efore acted,sftion t o H o sp ita l and although, wo axe raorally c e r t a in th a t i t was a c o se o f la s d p o iso n in g , we were n ever able to prove the fa s t, ihe fin d in g o f lead in abnormal q u a n titie s in the u rin e o f the other fiv e ca ses le d to a v i s i t to the 'CUD by the C h ief lis d ic a l O ffic e r and th e P a t h o lo g is t, who found th a t th e exigoncivia o f th e preaont War had le d to s v e s t in c r e a s e i n th e output o f lea d ed s p i r i t s " . ,4 b la s t s a i l had been b u i l t around th e F i l l i n g S e c tio n which m d e v e n t il a t io n v a r y un sa tis fa c to r y ,: and th e rapid evaporation o f th e s p i r i t a t the very h igh taap eretu ree which p e r ta in In Abadan in th e m m w r xasant th at th e s i r was Cull o f 'f .ii.L vapour, a f a c t which was la ta r proved beyond nny doubt. The C.P.O ftnd th e P a th o lo g is t m a o c e r t a in reconw endatione which sore isaaoditstoly pu t in to fo rce w ith tho r o s u it th a t th ere was an isssa d ia te iiisprovemant in the f ig u r e s o f odr d sa lo n to h o s p it a l o f c a s e s s u ffe r in g from le>?,d p o is o n in g . These recoxsEsondatiims w ore:- 1 , Powerful forced v e n tila tio n should be provided a t a l l the danger point", n . The b la s t ^ t l l s should be p u lle d down a t o n ce. 3 . .setter washing f a c i l i t i e s be provid ed fo r workxaanalong w ith liq u id soap i n s u f f i c i e n t q u a n tity , and in c r ea se d Vf.c. f a c i l i t i e s . 4 . P rovision fo r regular treatm ent o f c lo th s a by automatic claanera* The f ig u r e s o f sdjoisaion to h o s p it a l a re o f i n t e r e s t . Case a adm itted t o h o s p it a l because o f symptoms* 1542 J u ly August Jeptcaber October November Decanber ..... ...}. .... ..... ..... . 1 5 25 5 6 1 St should be n o ted th a t th e b l e s t w e l l s were b u ilt i n 4iy 1042, and th a t th ey ware taken down in fop tim ber 1 542. She working month o t th e T.O.JJ c o n s is t s o f 90 s h i f t s . The Ho. o f s h i f t s f i l l i n g loaded s p i r i t in 1941 o s ooiaparcd w ith 1342 i s g iv e n in th e t a b le below a s w a ll a th e m a n /Bsxioaja end mini .turn, toH^oroturaa f o r th o se y e a r s . 1541 1942 Do. o f S h ift vaun xionthly Ho* o f S h if t 'on monthly N29771 .**# a . lli fla ilin g o f Iad in abnormal q u a n titie s in the u rin e o f the otbar f iv e ea ses le d to a v i s i t to the f.O .a by the C hief Modi! O ffic e r and th e i-'athologiiit, ho found th a t the e x ig e n c ie s o f the p r e se n t War Imd le d t o a v e s t in c r e a s e i n th e output o f "loaded sp irits* '* i b la s t w a il had been b u i l t around th e F i l l i n g S e c tio n whiah m d e v e n t il a t io n very un s a t is f a c t o r y , rind th e rapid evap oration o f the s p i r i t a t the v ery h ig h tem peratures which p ertain in badan in the aum or a n t that th e a ir was Cull o f T.iS.L vapour, a fa c t which v<na lo t a r proved beyond any doubt* The C.P.Q and th e P a th o lo g is t node c e r t a in reooBBjendations w hich were is m e d la te ly p u t in to fo rce w ith th e r e s u lt th a t th ere was an i s m d i s t e improvement in the fig u r e s o f ad m ission to H ospital o f cases su fferin g from l-id poisoning* Those recoEESondtitioiiB w o r e:- 1 , Powerful forced v e n tila tio n should be provided a t a l l the "danger p o in ts" . The b l a s t w a lls sh ou ld be p u lle d dawn a t once* 5 . B atter washing f a c i l i t i e s be p rovid ed fo r workmen along w ith liq u id soap l a s u f f i c i e n t q u a n tity , and in c r ea se d Vi,C, f a c i l i t i e s . 4 . P rovision fo r ratrular treatm ent o f c lo th e s by automatic c le a n e r s. rho fig u r e a o f adm ission to h o s p it a l o re o f i n t e r e s t . C-aaoa adm itted to ho got t e l because o f sygsptoaa: 1343 J u ly August wptaisber October liOVQiSbor Docomber 1 5 83 9 6 1 I t should be n o ted th a t th e b la s t w a lls were b u i l t in Say 1348, and th a t th ey were taken down in Pep tim ber 1043. The working month a t th e F.Q .i) c o n s is t s o f 00 s h i f t s , t h e Ho. o f s h i f t s f i l l i n g 1 iauod s p i r i t in 1041 a s carpred w ith 1948 i s g iv e n in th e t a b le below sue w e ll a s th e m a n nariiuu and ?sinAam taK?>flroturaa f o r th e se y o u r s. 1941 1043 July iit AOptembar October Hove saber Ho. o f S h ift { Loaded :^ irita) 17 U 88 27 38 Hean monthly Tafaoamturos Hex. F in .{P ) 112 . 2 111.3 108.6 34.4? C.0F 83.8 79.3 73.4 52*8 88.9 ' Ho. of s h if t (Leaded P oin ts) 70 86 66 69 41 Fean monthly Temporeturas Tier. Fin 110*5 114*1 10 6 .8 97.1 83.0 83 81.8 73.8 69.3 59.2 KE 0010139 I t - fin be ap p reciated , th er efo r e, th a t averyth in g - e liw e t ic con d ition s, decrees in v e n t ila t io n , and p r e s s u r e o f work * com bin ed t o b r in g a b ou t t h i s u n fo r t u n a t e s t a t e o f a ffa ir s . I n a l l , 54 p er so n a v.oro exarain ed and 39 w r o fou n d t o b e e x c r e t in g le a d in t h e u r in e i n more t h a n *h e g e n e r a lly a cce p t e d "h or iaol* mount i . e m ore t h a n 0 ,1 4 ragas p o r l i t r e o f u r in e . Of t h e 39 p e r s o n s a ffe c t e d , 31 ware s u ffe r in g fr ost symptom s, and a n a n a ly s is i s i-iven o f th e p roain en t ayi^ jtoas d is p la ye d :- 'fon ia ft Noeta ** Favor ft l!u s c a la r fa in a 4 D ia r r h o ea Aiala r i a 3 17 * 6 2# 1 <A*J ( 0 ,4 2 mfpas, & a ,5 5 ga s p e r litr o ) Pneumonia ft ft ft ft ft 1 ( 0 . 3S ragas, p a r l i t r e ) . TOTAL 31 I t ia t o be r e g r e tte d th a t a t th e tim e we wore working short-handed, and aa a r e s u lt th e r e are m n y in v e s t ig a t io n s w hich we would l i k e t o have c a r r ie d o u t, f o r which the tin e as ju t not a v a ila b le so th a t only four c a se s wore examined fo r punctate Sasophi i a , nd <-,11 th e exam inations wore n eg a tiv e* .-.part from the two c a se s o f !%nia {Lnaaphalopthy) no s ig n s o f any 's ig n ific a n c e ware fr-ur.d on exam ination o f th e C en tra l Nervous System, and in no c a se was a "lend l i n e " found on exam inetioa o f the mouth, he fin d i t notew orthy th a t o i l th e c a s e s who were adm itted s u ffe r in g f s o a a h igh fe v e r showed a f a i r l y h igh load a x e r e tio n , a p o in t which we have n o t oasn mentioned i n any o f the p u b lic a tio n s we have read on the s u b j e c t. During one o f our v i s i t s to the p .o .D ., vie wore <;skd to lo o k at s e v e r a l c a s e s o f desquamation o f th e f a s t i n workers i n the P ,0,D At th e t in e wo wore n ot aware o f th e f a c t th a t t h i s i s a sig n o f f , 3 , L p o iso n in g and we wore e.quiilly c e r ta in th a t th ey had none o f th e appearances o f P a r a ffin D e r m a titis , There i s no doubt in our mind now, however, th a t th e s e issn were s u ffe r in g from th e e f f e c t a o f T.S.JU i>ith r ega r d to th e d is t r ib u t io n o f e ffe c t e d and n o n -a ffa o t a d p er son s a ccor d in g t o t h e ir a c t u a l em ploym ent, t h e fo llo w in g i s nn a n a ly s t s : - ore th an 0 ,1 4 ragsu* lan d in wr in g. l e s s t h a n 0* 14 ngms In u rin e. F illin g action Sold erin g A c t io n Cle a n in g Drums w it h P a t r o l( J ) rent.*al D u t ie s ( O ffic e ) To h i s t o r y o b t a i n e d 28 8 3 1 (0 .1 5 mgras.) 2 9 4 2 * 0010140. TOTAL 39 15  < '"fi" 'fenda feaknsss Fever ee ru sau lar fa in a + Diarrhoea ** B a ia rla Pneumonia eg 3 17 s 2 1 iCt (0 .4 3 cvpao. & 0 .5 3 ssgms p e r litr e ) 1 (0,35 & p. par lit r e ) . t o -m 51 I t i n t o be ra<?rttod th a t a t th e tijae we wore working short-handed, and a s a r e s u lt tivare ure m a y I n v a a tig a tlo n a w hich we wo! l d l i k e t o hero c a r r ie d o u t, f o r which the time wse ju s t not a v a ila b le so th a t on ly fo u r c a se s w j a oxaained fo r punctate Baeophi i o , nd f i l l th e exam inations wore n e g a tiv e . - p art from tho two cassia o f ?%nla (Encephalopathy) no algae o f any a ig n ifle n d a w srs found on exam ination o f th e C entral i&rvous System, and in no ca se was a "lead lin o " found i>n GXijrainntion o f th e mouth. f c fin d i t notow orisby th a t o i l th e o a s e s who w<sro adm itted s u ffe r in g from a high, fo v o r allowed a f a i r l y h igh load e x c r e tio n , a p o in t which we iuivo n o t **oen rant i oned i n any o f th e p u b lic a tio n s we have road on tha s u b j e c t. During one o f our v i s i t s to the t . o .D,* YvO wore caked to lo o k at s e v e r a l c a s e s o f desquam ation o f th e f e e t i n workers i n the p.o.D . At the t i a s \m were not aware o f th e f a c t t h a t t h i s i s & a i m o f T .3 .I. p o iso n in g and we ware e q u a lly c e r t a in th a t Shay had none o f th e appearances o f P a r a ffin D e r m a titis . There i s no doubt in our rin d now, however, th a t th o se nan ware s u ffe r in g from th e a f f e c t s o f ith i-emird to the d is tr ib u tio n o f a ffe c te d nad n o n -a ffso te d persona according to th eir actu al employneat, the follow in g i s an a n a ly s is :- iiore than 0 .1 4 gpas Ifiiad In u r in g , L ess than 0 ,1 4 mgms in urine. F illin g A ction ;5oiaarin<t A c t i o n oiatm ini' Arums w ith P e t r o li J) oanaj.'al D u ties (Offic o ) Ko h is t o r y ob tain ed 20 8 3 1 (0 .1 5 iagms.) 2 9 4 3 39 15 a s one would expect there l a a d e f in it e preponderance o f c o se s from the F i llin g `a c tio n which show a high e x c r e tio n o f lo a d in th e u r in e . The workers who wore f i l l i n g p a t r o l in t o t i n s , fo r purposes o f c le a n in g , are in t o r o s t ln g 4 s th ey muat have bean u sin g 1 adod s p i r i t fo r th e p u rp ose. The one o f f i c e worker in th o "abnorrcelMl i a t can, l th in k , bo ignored a h is Iced e x cr e tio n i s hardly to be regarded abnormal. The amount o f le a d in the atm osphere o f th e F i l l i n g 'Section a t the B.O.D woe examined by our Chemical Deportment, and the fo llo w in g i s on a b stra ct from th e ir co n clu sio n s:- 1* P u b lish ed la ta I n d ic a ta th a t freedom from 111 u f f -sot a may be ex p ected i f the load in th e atmosphere i a kept below 3 mg. o f load por working day eq u ivalen t to 4 .6 cu.m, o f u ir in 8 hours. K 0010141 m 3. B afors th e b l e s t m ils l a th e P.O.D ware p u lle d down, th e atmosphere e t head h e ig h t oral* th e tin n in g ICO C .li. s p i r i t (contM intng 4 .7 c .e e T .S .L par g a llo n ) under auanar c o n d it io n s , co n ta in ed 13-hO mg. load p e r 4. cu.m , of air. trader a p p ro x im ta ly b th e sane c o n d itio n s but a f t e r removing th e b la s t w a lls -he load con ten t avaraged c ir c a 7 a g . p a r 4*6 cu.m o f s i r . This fig u r e i s s t i l l toQ h ig h , but s in c e than th e system o f s u c tio n v e n t il a t io n r e fe r r e d to above haa been i n s t i t u t e d and i s working s a t i s f a c t o r i l y . The amount o f le a d l a the iitnoaphore at the P illin g A ctio n w ill be estijaated agoin in the surner when con d it io n e are cojapurabls, and we c o n fid e n tly e x p ect t o fin d th a t th e fig u r e w i l l be w e ll in sid e normal lim it a. '-.a r eg a r d s th e ffoldering S e c tio n , th e amount o f lea d i n th e atmosphere was s a t i s fa c to r y , b ein g c ir c a 1 .7 mg* load p e r 4 .6 cu.m , o f a i r , a t Xg f t . above the su r fa c e o f the molten so ld er. Xt w i l l be a p p re c ia te d from th e above f a c t s and f ig u r e s th a t th e h a n d lin g , o f loaded s p ir it s under ca rts in extreme con d ition s oan c o n stitu te a vary grave hasard, a hazard which, though u n lik e ly to oacur under normal peacetim e liorking co n d itio n s i s very lia b le to occur under the s tr e s s e s o f 'fur Production. it the she tim e, however, we ore q u ite s a t i s f i e d th u t a l l th a t i s req u ired t o make c o n d itio n s e n t i r e l y s a fe fo r workmen i s an adequate system o f v e n t il a t io n , p lu s a keen watch on o i l p o s s ib le a r ea s where " s p illa g e " i s l i k e l y t o o c cu r. S in ce the b la s t w a ll a t th e F i l l i n g S e c tio n were ronoved, washing f a c i l i t i e s improved and t l Suroporja p erso n n el o f th e P.O.D jar^ce aware o f th e r i s k s , th ere have been no fu r th e r c a s e s o f load p o iso n in g rep orted from t h i s Pol*ina r y . KE 0010142